Pump-shaft bearing structure



Nov. 15, 1%27.

v; J. NlMS ET AL PUMP SHAFT BEARING STRUCTURE File ad July 6, 1925 INVENTORS WJNL'IIZS 8J B.N (Z1125 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 15, 1927.

UNITED. STATES I 1,649,320 PATENT OFFICE.

VOIGT J. NIMS AND FRANK 3. H1118, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

PUMP-SHAFT BEARING STRUCTURE.

application filed July 6,

This invention relates to improvements in centrifugal water circulating pumps especially those of motor vehicles. and particularly dealswith a structure for prevent- 5 ing leakage of the water past the pump shaft. 1

The principal object of our invention is to provide a mechanical. and positively 'operating means for sealing the pump shaft against leaking whether running or idle, without the use of the ordinary form of stufling box or packing glands, which are inefficient and a constant source of trouble.

Another object of our invention is to provide a structure for the purpose so arranged that wear has no effect on the Water sealing feature, as all wear is automatically taken up as it occurs and without any attention ever being necessary on the part of an operator to maintain the structure in a leakproof condition. In fact with wear the sealing features will become better rather than deteriorate.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly efiecttive for the purpose for which it is adapted. These objects we accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of 0 parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding pants in the several views:

roof structure as applied to a pump and an unit of a certain standard type.

F Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of b Fig. 3 is a detached view of a shaft mem- The pump illustrated is of that type adapted to. be mounted onto the front end of the cylinder block of an engine adjacent the top thereof, and whose shaft carries the air'cooling fan on its outer and, forming a combined pump and fan unit.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the

numeral 1 denotes a plate adapted to be bolted onto the cylinder block 2, covering the opening leading to the water jacket of the block. This plate has an outwardly roject ing hub 3 into which is fitted a caring sleeve 4. The inner end of this sleeve is re water is positively prevented from leaking duced in bore, forming a shoulder 5.

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of our leak 1925. Serial refines.

Turnably and slidably mounted in the sleeve 4 is an inner sleeve 6, having a run mng fit both with the reduced and'normal bore of the sleeve 4, and consequently having to a shoulder -7 engaging the shoulder 5.

Slidably mounted in the outermost portion of the sleeve 6 is a shaft 8, having an enlarged flange 9 intermediate its ends. The outer face of this flange bears against a plate 10 which is securely fixed onto the outer end of the sleeve 4 and practically forms a part thereof. Fixed on the outer end of the shaft 8 beyond the flan e 9'is a pulley v 11 to receive a standard drivlng belt, the fan 70 blades 12 being mounted on the outer face of this pulley as is customary.

Mounted in the'reduced portion of the sleeve 6 and extending toward the adjacent end of the shaft 8 is another shaft 13, a por- 7 tion of which has driving but sliding engagement with the shaft 8. This may be accomplished in' various ways, as for instance by means of a fiat-side tongue 14 on the shaft 13 slidably fitted into a groove 15 in 30 the shaft 8. This end of the shaft 8 is spaced some distance from the shoulder 7, to enable a compression spring 16 being placed about the shaft 13in such space to bear against the shaft 8 and said shoulder.

Thus it will be seen that the shoulders 5 and 7 are maintained in constant frictional engagement and the flange 9 is also maintained in similar engagement with the plate 10. As wear occurs in these engaging surfaces, the spring 16 takes it u since the shaft 8 is s'lidable relative to t e shaft 13 and along the sleeve 6.

To maintain the en aged surfaces of the members 4 and 6 lubricated, a longitudinal groove 17 is provided in the bore of the sleeve 4, a lubrlcant being fed to said oove by means of a grease cup 18 or the h e.

Fitted onto the inner or reduced end of the sleeve 6 beyond the plate 1 and sleeve 4 is a pump impeller 19 of a standard rotary type. This impeller, the sleeve 6 and the shaft 13 are secured together as by a pin 20, so that these members all turn as one. The location of the annular bearin surfaces is such that they are not in the direct path of the water flow, and hence there is very little chance. of dirt or other foreign matter getting onto said surfaces to pit or corrode the same.

7 The result of this arrangement is that the outwardly past the shaft at all times, and whether the pump is running or is stationary, and the pump will operate indefinitely without any leakage developing, and without any attention or adjustment being necessary.

While this device has been particularly described in connection with a motor vehicle pump, it is obvious that our construction may be incorporated in any rotary pump structure.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that we have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A leak proof bearing including an outer bearing sleeve having an inner bearing shoulder at each end, a two piece splined shaft turnable within the sleeve, a bearing shoulder on each piece of the shaft arranged to bear against one of the shoulders on the sleeve, and means to apply pressure against each shaft piece to cause the shoulder thereon to be maintained in. constant frictional engagement. with its adjacent sleeve shoulder irrespective of any wear thereof.

2. A leak proof bearing including an outer bearing sleeve having an inner bearing shoulder at' each end, a two piece splined shaft turnable within the sleeve, a bearing shoulder on each piece of the shaft arranged to bear against one of the shoulders on the sleeve, and means to maintain constant frictional bearing contact between the shoulders irrespective of any wear thereof, such means including a yieldable member acting to push the two pieces of the shaft apart.

3. A leak proof bearing comprising an outer bearing sleeve having an inner bearing shoulder at each end, a two piece splined and telescopic shaft turnable within the outer sleeve, a bearing shoulder on each piece of the shaft bearing against one of the shoulders .on the outer sleeve and a yieldable element interposed between the inner ends of the shaft piecesto act to push the pieces apart and hold the adjacent bearing shoulders in constant frictional engagement irre spective of wear thereof.

4. A leak-proof bearing structure comprising a pair of alined shafts mounted in driving but slidable relation to each other, a sleeve fixed onto one shaft and fitting over the other, a fixed sleeve in which said first named sleeve is slidably and turnably mounted, shoulders forming annular bearing surfaces between the sleeves at one end thereof, and shoulders forming annular bearing surfaces at the opposite .end of the outer sleeve between said sleeve and the adjacent shaft.

5. A structure as in claim 4, in which means is provided tending to force the shafts longitudinally of each other to maintain said annular surfaces in constant engagement at all times. i

6. A leak-proof bearing structure comprising a pair of alined shafts mounted in driving but slidable relation to each other, a sleeve fixed onto one shaft and fitting over the other, a fixed sleeve in which said first named sleeve is slidably. and turnably mounted, shoulders between the sleeves ad jacent one end thereof, forming annular bearing surfaces, a plate projecting inwardly from the opposite end of the outer sleeve beyond the inner sleeve, and a flange on the adjacent portion of the shaft bearing against the inner face of said plate.

7. A structure as in claim 4, in which a compression spring is provided which bears at one end against the slidable shaft and atthe other end against the adjacent end of the inner sleeve.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

VOIGT J. NIMS. FRANK B. NIMS. 

